What we
must understand is the mental skill set and/or tactical sequencing that takes
place. Decisions should follow a natural progression with simple steps
(decisions). These decisions should follow a simple "left or right",
"forward or backward" mentality. This allows the primary to move
through options in a very quick, fluid manner. The example shown below may take
only a few seconds depending on opposition pressure.

Diagram
No. 14

The
following diagram provides a more in depth explanation of the decision making
process. In this example we will assume that the player has decided to carry the
puck. Each decision has two distinct alternate variables as shown by black
arrows. In option 1, the primary has moved into a situation where the
opposition has limited his space and forced him to make a decision.

Diagram
No. 15

As we can
see, proper training both from a negative (what bad thing would happen if I
chose an alternate decision) as well as from a positive (what good thing would
happen if I chose an alternate decision) point of view is absolutely critical.
A player must understand both variables in order to make quality decisions.
This mental - skill relationship is a process that cycles back and forth in a
dominate role over a player's hockey career. By dominate I mean that one
drives the learning or motivation to improve the other. In the beginning
of a player's hockey career, the mental cycle is obviously high; "I want to
learn how to skate, puck-handle and shoot". This creates the passion
for learning the skills of the game. As the skills improve they gradually
become the dominate force, driving the mental to learn the game in the tactical
sense. "I can skate, shoot and pass but I do not know how to do a 2 on 1
correctly". This cycle moves back and forth. Once a player acquires a new
set of skills he must be taught where to use them. Once a player
understands more of the tactical side of the game, he knows what areas
relative to skill he must improve. This cycle is shown below.

Diagram
No. 16 Mental / Skill Cycle Analysis

This
cycling creates highs and lows in a players career. It then becomes
important to understand when a "high" is happening and take advantage
of it (when a player is playing "in the groove"). These highs are
demonstrated in the cycle as the green circles in the middle. This is where both
mental and skill integrate perfectly. The lows are depicted by the red lines
running parallel. This would represent a player "slumping"
(hasn't scored in ten games, etc.). These cycles are evident in all areas
of play' gross or fine, micro or macro. The following diagram represents this
cycling overlap.

Diagram
No. 17 - Cycle Integration Analysis

This rotating cycle can be best described using
the following example. Lets assume that the micro-cycle is passing skills
and the macro-cycle is tactical two on ones. The micro-cycle
"mental" component is the need to pass better (1M), the larger
macro-cycle is wanting to learn how to perform two on ones properly.
Passing skill is low and macro-skill execution (skating, carrying puck and
passing) is weak. Player learns how to pass forehand side and understands
first rule of 2 on 1 engagement thus the cycles merge and integrate properly at
(3C). As an extension of learning how to pass the player learns how
to backhand pass better as well as saucer pass. Skills are high but mental
execution is weak. New rules of engagement are learned, new cycle develops
and merges in next macro - cycle rotation past (F6). There can be many over-
lapping cycles involving large team "gross tactical" systems,
"fine tactical" systems involving 1, 2 or 3 players, skills,
skill-sets or even career cycles. How all of these systems integrate and
support each other is absolutely critical to maximizing a player's development.

My C.A.T. System of
development is based on the above fundamentals. A hockey player cannot be
"created" overnight. A system of analysis and correction is
paramount to creating a developmental "road map" that a player can
follow for the next 5 to 6 years and in cases of fine tuning fundamentals and
tactics, many more years are required.